Plasmolysis in a plant cell is defined as
(a) break down (lysis ) of plasma membrane in hypotonic medium
(b) shrinkage of cytoplasm in hypertonic medium
(c) shrinkage of nucleoplasm
(d) none of them
When plant cells are placed in a hypertonic solution they shrink (cytoplasm decreases) this process is known as plasmolysis. A hypertonic solution is a solution whose water concentration is less compared to the solution inside the cell (cytoplasm). Due to osmosis, water moves out of the cell leading to the shrinking of the cell. Hence, (c) is the correct option.